Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness week a success for Cheshire Police

Officers across Cheshire raised awareness for Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in a week of action which ran from Monday 18 July to Friday 22 July.

The week involved all nine Local Policing Units (LPUs) in Cheshire, focusing on engaging with their communities to tackle anti-social behaviour.

In the East of the county, action was aimed towards combatting anti-social driving. Officers from Wilmslow and Sandbach partnered up with West Midlands Police in a bid to crack down on vehicle ASB.

Officers in Sandbach have also secured a community base at Sandbach Football Club, where they will have ongoing engagement with children from the local and surrounding communities.

In the North, officers worked closely with the community to raise awareness on anti-social behaviour. This included children in Warrington painting a mural of a subway, and officers promoting Operation Scrambler in Widnes.

In the West of the county, officers used resident voice surveys to connect with the local community and hear their thoughts. They also organised a dynamic bingo night for children in the local area, held at Northwich Plaza.

Superintendent Gary Smith, who is the lead for Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week at Cheshire Constabulary said: “It has been a successful week for Cheshire Police during Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, across the force, with plenty of engagement with the local community.

“We put a focus on working with partners for this year’s ASB Awareness Week, and it is clear to see that working with our partners has helped officers to get messages to the public.

“ASB can include things such as graffiti, littering and off-road motorcycles within the community and this activity creates an environment where more serious crime can take place.

“This type of behaviour might not seem serious to some people, but it can cause misery to local neighbourhoods, and I hope this week has shown if we all work together, we can have a positive impact and drive down the levels of ASB.

“I would like to continue to urge anyone who feels that they are or have been a victim of ASB to get in touch with Cheshire Constabulary by calling 101 or reporting it via:

https://www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb/report-antisocial-behaviour

Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer said: "It's great to see the Constabulary take this action throughout ASB awareness week. It shows that we're serious about targeting perpetrators of ASB in Cheshire.

"I mention tackling ASB in my Police and Crime Plan because everyone deserves to live in a safe community, free from these sorts of incidents, and it's vital for the police to work with local people to achieve this.

"My thanks go to all the officers involved in operations across ASB awareness week, and I want to reassure residents of our commitment to make Cheshire even safer."

CREWE ACTIVITY

During the week in Crewe Central teams engaged with schools during the start of the week with talks around anti-social behaviour. There were multiple police surgeries covering hotspot areas (Chester Street, Dorfold Street, Mavor court, Samuel Street, Darby docks, Bessemer way, Mount pleasant Alban Street and Stafford Street.) There was also activity with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service regarding high vis/ fire prevention on Stafford Street, and bike marking was available in Tesco, Queens Park and Leighton Brook.

During the week, officers engaged with young people at boxing clubs in the area and raised the awareness of anti-social behaviour. Officers worked with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to educate people on road safety, and there were police surgeries on Mill Street.

In Nantwich, there was patrolling in hotspot areas, a promotion of the upcoming summer activities including the fishing competition, with various posts on social media around reporting ASB.

MACCLESFIELD ACTIVITY

Monday: Macclesfield south team went into the Town centre promoting the introduction of a public space protection order in the Town. This will prohibit drinking in the town, possessing open alcohol containers and urinating/defecating in the street and has been obtained by partners in Cheshire East

Tuesday: The West Midlands police, Operation Hercules unit came to Wilmslow and gave an input on combatting organised car meets/races.

Wednesday: As a result of information received from the local community, Wilmslow officers responded and seized an off-road Bike on Lacey Green, the rider was prosecuted, and the bike was crushed.

Thursday: Multiple police surgeries were held across the LPU engaging with residents and identifying ASB hotspots.

Friday: All Macclesfield beat teams joined forces to execute three simultaneous warrants in Macclesfield where ASB and drugs intelligence had been generated. A quantity of controlled drugs was recovered. A dispersal order was authorised for Barnaby Park, Poynton, allowing officers to react quickly and move groups of youths out of the area.

Saturday: Wilmslow beat team carried out a “listening to locals” open air surgery in the Town centre to specifically discuss ASB and how we are working in partnership to address this.

Sunday: A dispersal order was issued for the A34 and Altrincham Road in Wilmslow after a number of Cars had gathered for a car meet. Officers reacted quickly and the group left the area. All registered keepers of these vehicles will be spoken to, and warnings issued to all Cars

PCSO’s have visited most primary schools within their ward areas and provided educational inputs to children prior to the school holidays.

CONGLETON ACTIVITY

In Sandbach, there was input from West Midlands Police around ways to tackle Car anti-social behaviour.

There has been a social media campaign with photographs of ASB locations and officers presence.  Inc PCSO Sue Holt visiting a location where residents were concerned about the use of Cannabis by juveniles. PCSO Holt located 4 juveniles in possession of Cannabis.  Process underway with expected divert referrals and SM update.

Officers have set up a community base at Sandbach United Football Club – Commenced engagement at the location.  The club has hundreds of children as members from ages 3 to 18.

Congleton Pride was policed with Cheshire Police Special Constabulary and Beat Team, great engagement day with posts on social media, event attended by around 5,000 people

There was a number pop-up beat surgeries at ASB locations/high foot fall areas, with continued visits to ASB informants/victims including Multi Agency visits. 

Officers also attended schools in the area to raise awareness to anti-social behaviour, by presenting a talk to students.

NORTHWICH ACTIVITY

Monday: There was a pop-up police station in Cheviot Square, engagement at the GGO Bungalow on the Greenfields Park estate, community engagement with the Weaver Vale Housing Trust, GGO Residents Association and town councillors.

Tuesday: There was hotspot patrolling around Coddington (library area)

Thursday: Residents voice surveys were carried out during the day in different areas including near ASDA, as well as evening hotspot patrolling in Winsford Town centre.

Friday: Officers engaged with local residents at the Brio leisure centre, and local officers toured the different wards with town councillors. During the evening, there was hotspot patrolling in different areas.

Saturday: Officers carried out hotspot patrolling in Winsford town centre, as well as a ward walk on the Wharton estate, with partners from Cheshire West and Chester Council. Ward walks also took place on the Wharton estate, with partners from Cheshire West and Chester Council.

ELLESMERE PORT ACTIVITY

On Monday and Tuesday officers focused on high visibility around hotspot areas on the Westminster Estate to support community reassurance following a serious incident the previous week. Housing officers supported the graffiti copping efforts.

On Wednesday the inflatable football pitch was erected in Parkgate as an engagement event with primary school children – the pitch was due in Whitby Park on Tuesday but was moved owing to the extreme weather

On Wednesday a misuse of drugs act warrant was executed at a premises linked to local ASB – one male arrested having been wanted on a warrant.

On Thursday a strike day was executed as part of targeting an OCG linked to drug supply. Neighbours of properties previously targeted being revisited for support for closure orders.

The weekend saw the LPU focusing on engagement with businesses at the Coliseum and high visibility patrolling.

Pictured - One of the children involved in the mini police event with Inspector Ruth Atherton, for Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week.